24,000 people on housing waiting list - but just 60 empty homes in Waltham Forest

More than 24,000 people are on a waiting list for homes – with just 60 available borough-wide.

But most of those empty properties have already been earmarked for families after they are repaired, according to a spokeswoman for Ascham Homes, which manages them on behalf of Waltham Forest Council.

The housing management body said the 60 empty homes make up just 0.5 per cent of the council’s total housing stock, and attributed their vacancies to ‘natural turnover’.

However, Sanctuary Housing, another housing provider, has already started a project to provide 150 homes – a mix of newly built houses and repaired properties – by 2015.

A spokeswoman could not tell the Guardian how much the project is estimated to cost, but said it has just spent nearly £500,000 on renovating a family home and two flats in the borough.

The council has urged the government to relax laws which are preventing them from building more housing.

Cllr Marie Pye, who is responsible for trying to create new homes in Waltham Forest, said 300 homes could be built quickly if the government removed restrictions aimed at cutting public sector debt.

Comments (27)

How can you spend half a million quid on renovating one house and two flats? You could build then new for less.

If that was taxpayer's money, there's a clear sign of waste right there.

Cllr John Moss
Larkswood ward

How can you spend half a million quid on renovating one house and two flats? You could build then new for less.
If that was taxpayer's money, there's a clear sign of waste right there.
Cllr John Moss
Larkswood wardJohn J C Moss

What's really annoying is the number of brown field sites and empty commercial buildings around the borough, yet the council gives the go-ahead to build on the dog track even though it has a huge green area and stands ideal for sporting activities. We'll soon have no green areas left to enjoy in the borough.

What's really annoying is the number of brown field sites and empty commercial buildings around the borough, yet the council gives the go-ahead to build on the dog track even though it has a huge green area and stands ideal for sporting activities. We'll soon have no green areas left to enjoy in the borough.driftingcowboy

Is it Mrs Pye's ambition that all these people should be rehoused within this borough? If so, could we see a plan of where she envisages their homes being? It would be very educational to have before the next election.

Is it Mrs Pye's ambition that all these people should be rehoused within this borough? If so, could we see a plan of where she envisages their homes being? It would be very educational to have before the next election.mdj

What is really annoying is that there are not business running from these brown field sites. The council have jacked up business rates so fast that they have been driven out of the borough.
Where are all these homeless people living at the moment?
Let's get back to Victorian times, 12 to a 2 up 2 down. No problem with heating bills and a nice cosy family life.

What is really annoying is that there are not business running from these brown field sites. The council have jacked up business rates so fast that they have been driven out of the borough.
Where are all these homeless people living at the moment?
Let's get back to Victorian times, 12 to a 2 up 2 down. No problem with heating bills and a nice cosy family life.TTMAN

John J C Moss wrote:
How can you spend half a million quid on renovating one house and two flats? You could build then new for less. If that was taxpayer's money, there's a clear sign of waste right there. Cllr John Moss Larkswood ward

It would seem that you are in a much better position than most of us to investigate this. Instead of asking rehtorical questions here, why don't you make it your business to find out, and then report back to us

[quote][p][bold]John J C Moss[/bold] wrote:
How can you spend half a million quid on renovating one house and two flats? You could build then new for less. If that was taxpayer's money, there's a clear sign of waste right there. Cllr John Moss Larkswood ward[/p][/quote]It would seem that you are in a much better position than most of us to investigate this. Instead of asking rehtorical questions here, why don't you make it your business to find out, and then report back to usDonald Bethl'hem

Cornbeefur says
I apologise if you did not say it but thought you did sorry
http://www.guardian-
series.co.uk/news/10
244461.Soup_kitchen_
threatened_with_evic
tion__to_make_way_fo
r_development_/?acti
on=success
And you still continue, go back and read it you sad trollSXH

SXH wrote: 24,000 people on housing waiting list - but just 60 empty homes in Waltham Forest Last weeks article Thursday 21st February 2013 Some people to be told they will not be housed, despite years on the waiting list, after council revises priorities http://www.guardian- series.co.uk/news/10 243867.Shake_up_for_ council_home_waiting _list/ There are currently around 6,700 people on the council's housing waiting list Can Cllr Pye explain where the extra 17,300 are coming from???

Why? Are you indicating that it is the Tories to blame?

sunn says...
5:15pm Thu 21 Feb 13

And shame on the Tories for the huge increase in the number of homeless people in the first place.”

You have been blaming me for a comment another poster made on an article i never even commented on, your an internet bully

[quote][p][bold]Cornbeefur[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]SXH[/bold] wrote: 24,000 people on housing waiting list - but just 60 empty homes in Waltham Forest Last weeks article Thursday 21st February 2013 Some people to be told they will not be housed, despite years on the waiting list, after council revises priorities http://www.guardian- series.co.uk/news/10 243867.Shake_up_for_ council_home_waiting _list/ There are currently around 6,700 people on the council's housing waiting list Can Cllr Pye explain where the extra 17,300 are coming from???[/p][/quote]Why? Are you indicating that it is the Tories to blame?[/p][/quote]sunn says...
5:15pm Thu 21 Feb 13
And shame on the Tories for the huge increase in the number of homeless people in the first place.”
You have been blaming me for a comment another poster made on an article i never even commented on, your an internet bullySXH

'There are currently around 6,700 people on the council's housing waiting list
Can Cllr Pye explain where the extra 17,300 are coming from???'

The smaller number is Epping Forest DC's list.
The news menus in this paper tend to be merged in such a way that headlines in themselves don't always make clear which area is being referred to.

'There are currently around 6,700 people on the council's housing waiting list
Can Cllr Pye explain where the extra 17,300 are coming from???'
The smaller number is Epping Forest DC's list.
The news menus in this paper tend to be merged in such a way that headlines in themselves don't always make clear which area is being referred to.mdj

These sort of figures are pretty much inevitable if we're going to have a rapidly rising population in an already densely populated borough (and city).

Every political party has stood lamely by and let this happen, if not actually encouraged the process. We reap what we sow.

These sort of figures are pretty much inevitable if we're going to have a rapidly rising population in an already densely populated borough (and city).
Every political party has stood lamely by and let this happen, if not actually encouraged the process. We reap what we sow.Brisbane

TTMAN wrote:
What is really annoying is that there are not business running from these brown field sites. The council have jacked up business rates so fast that they have been driven out of the borough.
Where are all these homeless people living at the moment?
Let's get back to Victorian times, 12 to a 2 up 2 down. No problem with heating bills and a nice cosy family life.

We are already there, I am afraid. Many of the family terraced houses in my part of the borough are now divided into two flats. I am aware of people sleeping three or four to a room, so there is a good chance that some of these buildings have more than the dozen you jest about.

[quote][p][bold]TTMAN[/bold] wrote:
What is really annoying is that there are not business running from these brown field sites. The council have jacked up business rates so fast that they have been driven out of the borough.
Where are all these homeless people living at the moment?
Let's get back to Victorian times, 12 to a 2 up 2 down. No problem with heating bills and a nice cosy family life.[/p][/quote]We are already there, I am afraid. Many of the family terraced houses in my part of the borough are now divided into two flats. I am aware of people sleeping three or four to a room, so there is a good chance that some of these buildings have more than the dozen you jest about.Techno3

LBWF Councillors namely those on the planning committee and housing committees hold a great deal of responsibility for this.

This is because if they strictly adhered to the various policies and insisted that social housing and affordable housing quotas were met on all new builds, the list would be less.

You only have to look at all the new developments currently in progress or about to start that fail to meet the various quotas set on social and affordable housing.

LBWF planning department and councillors should be insisting quotas are met and refusing planning permission where they are not met.

They should also insist that a guaranteed number of properties are allocated to Waltham Forest and not the homeless in other boroughs.

They should also make more stricter and regular unannounced checks on their tenants to crack down on the amount of housing fraud and key selling going on.

LBWF Councillors namely those on the planning committee and housing committees hold a great deal of responsibility for this.
This is because if they strictly adhered to the various policies and insisted that social housing and affordable housing quotas were met on all new builds, the list would be less.
You only have to look at all the new developments currently in progress or about to start that fail to meet the various quotas set on social and affordable housing.
LBWF planning department and councillors should be insisting quotas are met and refusing planning permission where they are not met.
They should also insist that a guaranteed number of properties are allocated to Waltham Forest and not the homeless in other boroughs.
They should also make more stricter and regular unannounced checks on their tenants to crack down on the amount of housing fraud and key selling going on.sensibility

Why is LBWF, continously allowing people to put their names down on such a list, knowing full well that there's no chance of most people getting a home.The sooner they sort out a system whereby getting people off benefits and having more kids to fund their habits and layabout way of life, the sooner homes will be more available.If you cant pay you way, get off your back side and do something about it. As much as it frustrates me that our border control of eastern europeans has no end in sight, at least they come here to work. Many years ago, the council had a point system in order to get a property, then each time you got to the total number they would introduce a new point system, thats why I had to wait 16 years to get a place, which I eventually bought, and the council couldnt wait to take the money off me and many others too. I moved onwards and upwards from there. As for empty properties, I informed the council of an empty property a number of times and they just was not interested in dealing with the matter.

Why is LBWF, continously allowing people to put their names down on such a list, knowing full well that there's no chance of most people getting a home.The sooner they sort out a system whereby getting people off benefits and having more kids to fund their habits and layabout way of life, the sooner homes will be more available.If you cant pay you way, get off your back side and do something about it. As much as it frustrates me that our border control of eastern europeans has no end in sight, at least they come here to work. Many years ago, the council had a point system in order to get a property, then each time you got to the total number they would introduce a new point system, thats why I had to wait 16 years to get a place, which I eventually bought, and the council couldnt wait to take the money off me and many others too. I moved onwards and upwards from there. As for empty properties, I informed the council of an empty property a number of times and they just was not interested in dealing with the matter.moanalone

There are many waiting to be re-housed from large properties to smaller than they need, if the council made a move on these, they can re-house families who have been on the list for years.

LBWF claim they have just 60 available borough-wide.
There are many waiting to be re-housed from large properties to smaller than they need, if the council made a move on these, they can re-house families who have been on the list for years.SXH

The influx next year of millions more from Easten Block Countries, may put additional strain on resources including accommodation. Amongst the new arrivals will be 'Problem cases' like single mothers, Unaccompanied Children, Drunks and Drug Addicted Parents, Beggars and so on and the Government really should review its EU Policies as why do we need more problems in the UK when we have more than we can cope with already?

These are the real issues that people want Cameron to deal with not peripheral issues like Gay Marriage.

The influx next year of millions more from Easten Block Countries, may put additional strain on resources including accommodation. Amongst the new arrivals will be 'Problem cases' like single mothers, Unaccompanied Children, Drunks and Drug Addicted Parents, Beggars and so on and the Government really should review its EU Policies as why do we need more problems in the UK when we have more than we can cope with already?
These are the real issues that people want Cameron to deal with not peripheral issues like Gay Marriage.Cornbeefur

Cornbeefur wrote:
The influx next year of millions more from Easten Block Countries, may put additional strain on resources including accommodation. Amongst the new arrivals will be 'Problem cases' like single mothers, Unaccompanied Children, Drunks and Drug Addicted Parents, Beggars and so on and the Government really should review its EU Policies as why do we need more problems in the UK when we have more than we can cope with already?

These are the real issues that people want Cameron to deal with not peripheral issues like Gay Marriage.

Corny beefer, you actual talk some sense. Hear hear...

[quote][p][bold]Cornbeefur[/bold] wrote:
The influx next year of millions more from Easten Block Countries, may put additional strain on resources including accommodation. Amongst the new arrivals will be 'Problem cases' like single mothers, Unaccompanied Children, Drunks and Drug Addicted Parents, Beggars and so on and the Government really should review its EU Policies as why do we need more problems in the UK when we have more than we can cope with already?
These are the real issues that people want Cameron to deal with not peripheral issues like Gay Marriage.[/p][/quote]Corny beefer, you actual talk some sense. Hear hear...moanalone

Successive woefully bad governments have made our country's future look bleak. Over-population, chronic pressure on schools,doctors and hospitals to name a few. The people I feel sorry for are the young - what on earth will this land be like in 20 or so years? Ugly houses no doubt covering every blade of a once lovely place.

Successive woefully bad governments have made our country's future look bleak. Over-population, chronic pressure on schools,doctors and hospitals to name a few. The people I feel sorry for are the young - what on earth will this land be like in 20 or so years? Ugly houses no doubt covering every blade of a once lovely place.ColinOrient

These sort of figures are pretty much inevitable if we're going to have a rapidly rising population in an already densely populated borough (and city).

Every political party has stood lamely by and let this happen, if not actually encouraged the process. We reap what we sow. So said Brisbane.

I do not think you can blame the poloticians for the rapidly rising population, although the LibDems are trying their best by all accounts.

These sort of figures are pretty much inevitable if we're going to have a rapidly rising population in an already densely populated borough (and city).
Every political party has stood lamely by and let this happen, if not actually encouraged the process. We reap what we sow. So said Brisbane.
I do not think you can blame the poloticians for the rapidly rising population, although the LibDems are trying their best by all accounts.TTMAN

Cornbeefur wrote:
The influx next year of millions more from Easten Block Countries, may put additional strain on resources including accommodation. Amongst the new arrivals will be 'Problem cases' like single mothers, Unaccompanied Children, Drunks and Drug Addicted Parents, Beggars and so on and the Government really should review its EU Policies as why do we need more problems in the UK when we have more than we can cope with already? These are the real issues that people want Cameron to deal with not peripheral issues like Gay Marriage.

Never thought I would ever say this but I have to agree with Cornbeefer, we may be very close to saturation point and issues like housing,hospital waiting lists,and crime will come under even more pressure, whilst I am all for people coming to the UK to improve their quality of life it must be remembered that in many cases they will take out far more than they will ever contribute

[quote][p][bold]Cornbeefur[/bold] wrote:
The influx next year of millions more from Easten Block Countries, may put additional strain on resources including accommodation. Amongst the new arrivals will be 'Problem cases' like single mothers, Unaccompanied Children, Drunks and Drug Addicted Parents, Beggars and so on and the Government really should review its EU Policies as why do we need more problems in the UK when we have more than we can cope with already? These are the real issues that people want Cameron to deal with not peripheral issues like Gay Marriage.[/p][/quote]Never thought I would ever say this but I have to agree with Cornbeefer, we may be very close to saturation point and issues like housing,hospital waiting lists,and crime will come under even more pressure, whilst I am all for people coming to the UK to improve their quality of life it must be remembered that in many cases they will take out far more than they will ever contributetjm01

Does the Freedom of Information Act allow us to know how many of those adults on the housing waiting list are British born or have lived in the UK for over 10 years?
I suspect that the EU immigrants who have taken low paid jobs so they cannot afford to buy or rent a decent home, had children (who of course won't count as non UK on the statistics) will now qualify as overcrowded/homeless
.
I wonder how many British people are being housed and supported by the governments in Poland, Latvia etc etc.

Does the Freedom of Information Act allow us to know how many of those adults on the housing waiting list are British born or have lived in the UK for over 10 years?
I suspect that the EU immigrants who have taken low paid jobs so they cannot afford to buy or rent a decent home, had children (who of course won't count as non UK on the statistics) will now qualify as overcrowded/homeless
.
I wonder how many British people are being housed and supported by the governments in Poland, Latvia etc etc.myopinioncounts

We dont know what the numbers of people from what backgrounds are on the housing list so lets not assume that the vast majority are too be deported and just look at that other council building a £450,000 house for a single mother of "11" and shesb full british so dont tar all people from abroad as scroungers when theres plenty of our own doing it

We dont know what the numbers of people from what backgrounds are on the housing list so lets not assume that the vast majority are too be deported and just look at that other council building a £450,000 house for a single mother of "11" and shesb full british so dont tar all people from abroad as scroungers when theres plenty of our own doing itSpursSupporter1

SpursSupporter1 wrote:
We dont know what the numbers of people from what backgrounds are on the housing list so lets not assume that the vast majority are too be deported and just look at that other council building a £450,000 house for a single mother of &quot;11" and shesb full british so dont tar all people from abroad as scroungers when theres plenty of our own doing it

"Plenty"? There are 190 families with ten or more children in the UK.
(source: DAILY MAIL).

This scrounger problem is simply irrelevant.

Trust me the more time goes by the more this country needs immigration. Who is going to pay our pensions if there is no one here of working age?

Investment in infrastructure is badly needed and there's no reason why this shouldn't support the immigrant population as well as those born here.

Interest rates are historically low making investment a cheap option. We need to get Osborne and his millionaire friends out of office as soon as possible.

[quote][p][bold]SpursSupporter1[/bold] wrote:
We dont know what the numbers of people from what backgrounds are on the housing list so lets not assume that the vast majority are too be deported and just look at that other council building a £450,000 house for a single mother of "11" and shesb full british so dont tar all people from abroad as scroungers when theres plenty of our own doing it[/p][/quote]"Plenty"? There are 190 families with ten or more children in the UK.
(source: DAILY MAIL).
This scrounger problem is simply irrelevant.
Trust me the more time goes by the more this country needs immigration. Who is going to pay our pensions if there is no one here of working age?
Investment in infrastructure is badly needed and there's no reason why this shouldn't support the immigrant population as well as those born here.
Interest rates are historically low making investment a cheap option. We need to get Osborne and his millionaire friends out of office as soon as possible.stickmanny

John J C Moss wrote:
How can you spend half a million quid on renovating one house and two flats? You could build then new for less.

If that was taxpayer's money, there's a clear sign of waste right there.

Cllr John Moss
Larkswood ward

I'm asking the same thing! Gold-plated taps? Indoor swimming pool? or just the council's usual cheery wastefulness with public money.

Cllr Moss, please use your position to investigate. Thanks

[quote][p][bold]John J C Moss[/bold] wrote:
How can you spend half a million quid on renovating one house and two flats? You could build then new for less.
If that was taxpayer's money, there's a clear sign of waste right there.
Cllr John Moss
Larkswood ward[/p][/quote]I'm asking the same thing! Gold-plated taps? Indoor swimming pool? or just the council's usual cheery wastefulness with public money.
Cllr Moss, please use your position to investigate. ThanksWalthamster